Mechanism for narrowing flat knit full fashioned hosiery



J3me 38 11935 G. GASTRICH E QQSAM MECHANISM FOR NARROWING FLAT KNIT FULLFASHIONED HOSIERY Filed Dec. 28, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 w a W Jum 1819350 GASTRICH ZAMQSAM MECHANISM FOR NARROWING FLAT KNIT FULL FASHIONEDHOSIERY Filed Dec. 28, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR: Zavfim 7 ATTORNEY.

i June W35. G. GA$ i'RlCH ZAWSAM MECHANISM FOR NARROWING FLAT KNIT FULLFASHIONED HOSIERY Filed Dec. 28, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTQR:

June 1%,, 11935. GASTRlCH ZMQSAM MECHANISM FOR NARROWING FLAT KNIT FULLFASHIONED HOSIERY Filed Dec. 28, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 fi m1 8 a, 17INENTOR 1: a gamm in /611 atented June l SM FUR NROWING '11 it.

FULL FASHIONED HOSIUERY Gustav Gastrich, Wyomissing, Pa..assignor toTextile Machine Works, .Wyoing, Pa, a corporation of PennsylvaniaApplication December 28, 1932, Serial No. 6%,161

J12 Claim.

whereby the formation of runs in the stockin which result from suchdropping of stitches is accordingly reduced to a minimum.

The above mentioned feature is attained by increasing the number ofcourses in which the narrowings respectively occur, and by reducing thenumber of wales across which the laterally transferred stitches of eachnarrowing course are displaced. For example, instead of narrowing thefabric two wales adjacent to each end of every sixth course, which iscommon practice in the knitting art at the present time, the inventioncontemplates the narrowing of the fabric but one wale at each end ofevery third course.

By this process the narrowing of the leg of the stocking is less abruptand more gradual than heretofore, and by transferring the narrowingstitches across but one wale, instead of two, the possibilities ofdropping stitches at the narrowings is reduced to a minimum and almost,if not entirely, eliminated. 1 Abrupt narrowing at the rear lower endsof the heel tabs of a flat knit stocking blank is desirable, in order togive the proper rounded shape to the heel of the stocking, and thepresent invention contemplates the retention ofthe double Wale narrowingin closely adjacent courses in the production of the heel tabs.

.The invention contemplates automatic control for the narrowing pointsand thread guides of the machine on which the stocking blank is beingproduced, whereby the single wale narrowings in the leg of the stockingblank and the double Wale narrowings in the heel tabs of the stockingblank are automatically accomplished, without manual setting of thecontrol mechanism by the operator of the machine after the knitting ofthe stocking blank has been started.

Another object of theinvention therefore is to provide automatic meansfor controlling the narrowing mechanism by which single wale narrowingsin one part of the stocking blank and double wale narrowings in anotherportion of the stockin" blank may ,beautomatically accomplished.

As a result of the single Wale narrowings in the leg of the stocking.the obtrusive narrowing marks common to full fashioned hosiery are madeconsiderably less conspicuous and in fact are almost entirelyobliterated. Therefore, the general appearance of stockings made inaccordance with the principles of the present invention is greatlyimproved over full fashioned stockings of the prior art. 1

. The construction and operation of the mechanism by which the improvedstocking is produced will be more fully disclosed hereinafter, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 diagrammatically illustrates the lower portion of a stockingblank made in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 7

Fig. 2 is a stitch diagram, drawn on an enlarged scale, of a portion ofthe fabric designated as A" in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but illustrating a portion of thefabric designated as B in 'Fig. 1;

Fig; 4 is an end view of sufllcient of a fiat full fashioned knittingmachine to illustrate the cooperation therewith of the mechanism of thepresent invention as applied thereto;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of one portion of the mechanism shown in Fig.4 with certain outermost elements broken away to illustrate more clearlythe cooperation of other underlying elements of the mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the mechanism shown in Figs. 4 and5; and

Figs. '7 to 12 inclusive are diagrammatic views illustrating the variousrelative positions of the mechanism for controlling the thread guidesand narrowing points of the machine during the knitting of a stocking inaccordance with the principles of the present invention.

The stocking blank illustrated in Fig. 1 comprises a lower leg portionC,a narrowed or fashioned'calf portion D, an ankle portion E whichincludes a portion of the instep F at the opposite sides of which aredisposed heel tabs G, G, re-

spectively.

The stocking blank throughout preferably comprises the usualsuccessively knit ordinary courses of plain stitches, down to a coursecoinciding with the line 2:, a: at which the fashioning of the calf Dbegins, whereupon any desired number of stitches, for example six, lyingadjacent to each of the opposite ends of the course of stitches thenhanging on the needles are picked from their respective needles andmoved inwardly of the blank to the extent of one needle whereupon thelifted stitches are transferred to the needles next adjacent to those onwhich the lifted stitches were formed, whereby, at each side of theblank two stitches occupy the one needle next adjacent to the needleupon which the innermost of the lifted stitches was formed, asillustrated at d in Fig. 2, thus reducing the width of the blank to theextent of one needle at each of the opposite sides of the blank in thenarrowing course D In accordance with the principles of the presentinvention two plain courses P, P are preferably knit in succession aftereach narrowing course, whereupon another narrowing course D with singlewale narrowings at is produced in substantially the same manner as abovenoted. This procedure is carried on throughout the formation of thefashioned calf portion D of the stocking.

After the calf portion D has been narrowed to the desired extent plainknitting in successive courses is produced throughout the formation ofthe ankle portion E and instep F, whereupon the formation of the heeltabs G, G at opposite sides of the instep F are provided in the usualmanner, down to the line 1/, y at which the narrowing of the heel tabsbegins.

In narrowing the heel tabs a number of stitches adjacent to each of theouter edges of the blank in a course G are lifted from the needles onwhich they were formed and transferred inwardly to the extent of twoneedles, as clearly shown at g, g, in Fig. 3, whereupon twoof theneedles next adjacent to those from which the said stitches have beenlifted are each occupied by two stitches.

' A predetermined number of plain courses P P are successively knitafter each narrowing course, whereupon another narrowing course G isformed. However, the number of stitches lifted in the second narrowingcourse G at each side of the blank, is one less than the number of thestitches lifted in the preceding narrowing course G the lifted stitchesin the course G being transferred inwardly to the e tent of two needles,the same as in the said receding narrowing course G This procedure isfollowed throughout the formation of the heel tabs G, G

whereby the line of narrowing marks in each heel tab is disposed at anangle relative to the outer selvage edge of the heel tab, rather than inparallel relation to the selvage edges of the blank as in the narrowingof the calf D, whereby the narrowing of the calf is more gradual thanthe narrowing in the heel tabs which is more abrupt in order to producethe desired rounding of the heel of the stocking.

In Fig. 4, the main cam shaft of a flat knitting machine of conventionaltype is illustrated at 10; The cam shaft 10 is arranged to be shoggedaxially at predetermined times by mechanism controlled by a patternchain I I, in a manner well known in the art, such mechanism beingshown-and described in detail in the Reading Full Fashioned KnittingMachine Catalogue, copyright 1929, and published by the Textile MachineWorks, Reading, Pennsylvania.

One of the single screw spindles for controlling the longitudinalmovements of the threadcarrying bars of the machine is illustrated atI2, and one of the double screw spindles for controlling thelongitudinal movements of the narrowing points, by which the stitchesare laterally transferred, is illustrated at I3.

Secured to the spindle i2 is the usual single ratchet wheel I l that isadapted normally to b engaged and rotated or advanced to the extent ofone tooth by the usual operating element, such as an advancing pawl I5,which is pivotally mounted on the outer end of an arm I6 loosely pivotedon the spindle I2.

Secured to the spindle I3 is a pair of opposed ratchet wheels I1 and I8respectively, the teeth of which extend in opposite directions withrespect to each other.

Adapted to engage the ratchet wheel I1 is an operating element, such asthe usual advancing pawl I9, that is adapted normally to rotate andthereby advance the ratchet wheel I1 to the extent of two teeth. Theadvancing pawl I9 is pivotally mounted on an arm 20 loosely pivoted onthe spindle I3.

The pawl-carrying arms I6 and 20 are pivotally connected to verticalarms or extensions 2I and 22 of a common actuator, such as a forked link23, having its lower end pivotally connected at 24 to one end of asubtantially horizontal lever 25, said lever 25 beingpivotally'connected at its opposite end 26 to a fixed portion of themachine.

Intermediate its ends the lever 25 is provided with a roller 21 which,when the main cam shaft I is shogged axially as above noted, is adaptedto be engaged by a cam 28 secure to the said cam shaft I0, whereupon theforke link 23 will be raised in a work stroke forming part of a completecycle of operation of the common actuator which is effected once foreach revolution of the cam shaft I0, whereby the pawl-carrying arms I6and 20 will be rotated about the spindles I2 and I3 respectively, andwhereby, with the pawls I and I9 normally engaging the ratchet wheels I4and I1 respectively, the spindles I2 and I3 will be rotated and thenarrowing nuts mounted on the said spindles I2 and I3 will be movedinwardly to the extent of the spacing of two needles.

The angular spacing of the teeth in the ratchet wheel I1 is half that ofthe spacing of the teeth in the ratchet wheel I4 and the normal movementof the link 23 by the cam 28 is such that under normal conditions theratchet wheel I4 is rotated to the extent of one tooth while theratchetwheel I! is rotated to the extent of two teeth, each resulting,however, in corresponding rotations of their respective screw spindlesI2 and I3 to an extent whereby'the traveling nuts thereon are moved tothe extent of two needles each.

In order to accomplish the single wale narrowings in the calf portion Dof the stocking, according to the principles of the present invention,the spindle I3 is rotated but approximately half its normal extent, inorder to accomplish the single wale narrowing in each narrowing course.This is accomplished, in the present instance, by holding the pawl I9out of engagement with the ratchet wheel I'I during the first half ofthe upward movement of the work stroke of the operating link 23, thenpermitting the said pawl to engage the ratchet wheel during the secondhalf of the upward movement of the link 23, whereby the said ratchetwheel I1 and the spindle I3 will be rotated to the extent of but oneneedle space. This is accomplished in the present instance in thefollowing manner:

Pivotally attached to the link 23, at 29, is a reversing pawl 30 whichis arranged to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel I8 to reverse therotationof the spindle I 3 under predetermined conditions as will befully disclosed hereinafter. During the formation .of the calfnarrowing, the reversing pawl 30 is held out of engagement with theratchet wheel it by a link ti which is pivoted at one end, at 32 to atiming lever 33% that is rotatably mounted on a shaft 3t. The-shaft atis secured in a fixed bearing 35 in the machine and extendssubstantially parallel to the spindles i2 and it. Mounted on the shaftat at the opposite side ofthe bearing 35 is a collar part 36 of lever 33having a lateral extension 3'! projecting parallel to and in spacedrelation from the shaft 3d.

Adjustably mounted on the extension 3V is a regulating block 38 whichunder predetermined conditions is engaged by a bearing surface formed ona lug M carried by or forming a portion of an arm M which extendsoutwardly from the traveling nut on the spindle l2, which nut carriesthe end stops ill for the thread guide bars M of the machine. The arm Wis apertured to receive and slide on the shaft M, to prevent rotation ofthe traveling nut as the spindle i2 is rotated.

The regulating block W is adapted to be held in sliding contact with thebearing surface of the lug it by any suitable'means, such as a springtit having one end attached to the timing lever 33 and its opposite endconnected to any suitable portion of the machine.

The opposite end of the link dl is provided with an elongated notch Minto which extends one laterally projecting end of a pin ts that issecured in the reversing pawl 3d, the pin d being held in engagementwith one end of the elongated notch til by means of a spring db securedat one of its ends to the pin 65 and at its opposite end to a projectionill at the last said end of the link 3i.

During the narrowing of the calf portion D of V the stocking blank theregulating block tit intains contact with the bearing surface of therelatively slidable lug 3d and holds the lever till against rotation bythe spring 33 in the direction of the arrow in Fig. 4. The timing leverE533 and the link iii are thereby maintained in a fixed position and thelink 38 withholds the reversing pawl til, in an inoperative position,with respect to the ratchet wheel in on the spindle l3.

Adjacent to its upper end the reversing pawl 30 is provided with alaterally extending pin it against which one surface M of a block 5%that is secured to the advancing pawl l9 bears. As a result of thisconstruction when the common actuator 23 is raised in its work stroke bythe cam 28, thereby raising the pawl 3t and sging the arm it about theaxis of the spindle it, the ad vancing pawl it is held out of engagementwith the ratchet wheel H as the point of the pawl 09 passes one tooth ofthe ratchet wheel ill, but, due to therelative swinging movement of thearm it with respect to the substantially vertical movement of thereversing pawl 30 the advancing pawl i9 is permitted to engage the nexttooth of the ratchet wheel H and thereby rotate the said ratchet wheel Hto the extent of. one tooth during the latterfhalf of the upwardWorkstroke movement of the link 23.

During this upward movement of the link 23 the arm it is swung about theaxis of the spindle it, in the same manner that the arm 20 swings aboutthe axis of the spindle it, but the advancing pawl i5 is held out ofengagement with the ratchet wheel It and, as a result thereof, thespindle it remains idle during the full upward movement of the link 23.Thus the thread guide is not moved inwardly in accordance with theinward movement of the narrowing points during the formation of thefirst narrowing course but continues to lay thread to the fullcomplement of needles on which the previous non-narrowed courses wereformed.

As the subsequent plain or non-narrowed courses, intermediate the firstand second nar rowing courses, are knit the thread is laid, by the saidthread guide, to that needle at each side of the stocking blank fromwhich the outermost stitch was picked during the narrowing in the firstnarrowing course, but because of the fact that no stitch was lefthanging on the said outermost needle at each side of the blank fromwhich the outermost transferred stitch was picked in producing the firstnarrowing course the thread laid to these needles during the formationof the subsequent non-narrowed courses will slip out of the beards ofthe needles and form selvage edges at the next adjacent needles, beingthose onto which the said picked stitches had been transferred. This isdone for the reason that it is impractical to reduce or narrow thetravel of the thread guide to the extent of only one needle, due to thecooperative action between the jack-operated sinkers and the dividers ofthe machine in sinking the thread around the needles, and for thisreason it has been heretofore considered necessary to transfer thenarrowing stitches two wales at a time, in accordance with thenecessitated reduction in the travel of the thread guide to the extentof two needles.

The advancing pawl i5 is held out of engage ment with the ratchet wheelit during alternate operating cycles of the common actuator 23 by a pin56 extending laterally from the pawl 55 and engaging one end of awithholding lever 52, which is plvotally mounted at 53, intermediate itsends, to a fixed portion of the machine, the opposite end of the leverbeing provided with a roller 56 arranged to be seated in one of a seriesof peripheral recesses 55 in a wheel 56 which is rotatably mounted on afixed portion of the machine upon a. stud or shaft El.

Fixed to the wheel 56, or on the shaft 51? in fixed relation to the camwheel at, is a ratchet wheel 5% and rotatably mounted on the shaft orstud fill is a bell-crank lever Ed, on one arm of which is 'pivotallymounted a pawl hit for operative engagement with the ratchet wheel at.Pivoted to the second arm of the bell-crank lever 5d, at ti, is one endof a connecting rod b2, the opposite end of which is pivotally mountedon the pivot element 26 by which the lower end of the link 23 ispivotally connected to the lever 25.

As the forked link 23 is raised during the formation of thefirst'narrowjng course the cam wheel 5% is rotated to the extent of onetooth of the ratchet wheel 58, whereby the rollerdt on the lower end ofthe withholding lever 52 rides out of the occupied recess 55 of the camwheel 5& onto a high point 63 of the periphery of thecam wheel 5t,whereby the withholding lever 52 is swung about its pivot 53 and theupper end of said lever is moved inwardly, toward the spindle it,whereby the advancing pawl i5 will be permitted to engage the singleratchet wheel M on the spindle i2, upon the next upward movement of thelink 23.

The roller 54 is held in resilient yielding contact with the cam wheel56 by means of a spring 64, one end of which is connected to a lugextending outwardly from the lever 52 while the opposite end of thespring SE is connected to the stud or shaft 57! upon which the cam wheel56 is rotatably mounted.

At the completion of one revolution of the cam shaft III, while in theshogged position, which also constitutes one complete operating cycle ofthe link 23, the shaft I0 moves in an opposite axial direction to resumenormal knitting of plain courses of stitches.

When the main cam shaft III of the machine is next shogged to producethe second narrowing course the spindle I3 will be rotated to the extentof one tooth of 'the ratchet-wheel IT, in the same manner as abovenoted, but'the spindle I2 will be rotated to the extent of one tooth ofthe ratchet Wheel I4, which is equal to two teeth of the ratchet wheelI'I, thus the spindle I2 will move the thread guide inwardly to theextent of two needles, at which time the thread guide catches up to thetwo-needle'inward movement of the narrowing points.

This sequence of operations is carried on throughout the formation ofthe narrowed calf portion D of the stocking, the spindle I3 moving tothe extent of one needle during the formation of each narrowing coursewhile the spindle I2 moves to the extent of two needles during theformation of alternate narrowing courses. Thus the transferring of thestitches inwardly along the selvage edges of the fashioned calf portionD and the inward movement of the thread guide keep pace one with theother throughout the formation of the narrowed portion D of the stockingblank.

During this time'the arm 40 on the narrowing nut that carries the endstops II for the thread guides 42 has progressed inwardly along theregulating block 38, and as the last narrowing course in the portion Dof the stocking blank is formed the edge 66 of the retaining lug 39moves past the edge 61 of the regulating block 38, thus releasing thesaid block from the lug 39 and permitting the lever 33 to rotate underthe action of the spring 43, thereby swinging the timing lever 33 in thedirection of the arrow (Fig. 4) and moving the control link 3|longitudinally, whereby the reversing pawl 30 is permitted to move intoengagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel I8 on the spindle I3 andthe advancing pawl I9 is released from the reversing pawl 30, whichheretofore has functioned as a withholding or controlling member forsaid advancing pawl I9, and is permitted to engage the teeth of theratchet wheel H on the spindle I3.

At the same time a pin 68 on the control link 3| engages the lever 52above its pivot 53, thereby swinging the same about its pivot againstthe action of the spring 64 and releasing the advancing pawl I so thatthe said pawl engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel I4.

The non-narrowed portion E--F of the stocking is then knit in the usualmanner, and when the course at the line y-y is reached the pattern chainII again functionsto effect shogging of the shaft II], to start thenarrowing of the heel tabs G, G, whereupon each rotation of the shaft.

III in its axially shogged position will rock the lever 25 and raise thelink 23 whereby the arms I6 and 20 will be swung in unison about thespindles I2 and I3 respectively and the advancing pawls I5 "and I9 willrotate the spindles I2 and I3 to the extent of two needles, narrowing ofthe fabric in the heel tabs G, G to the extent of two needles at eachnarrowing course.

As the link 23 is lowered, during the return stroke of the link on eachcomplete operating cycle thereof, the reversing pawl 35 will engage theteeth of the ratchet wheel I8 and turn the spindle I3 in a reversedirection, preferably to the extent of one needle. As a result of thisreverse movement of the spindle I3 the innermost narrowing points arestepped outwardly to the extent of one needle each time, after makingthe two-needle transfer of the narrowing stitches, so that thetransferring of stitches inwardly from the selvage edges of the heeltabs G, G will be formed on a line at an angle to the selvage edge ofthe heel tabs rather than on a line parallel to the selvage edge as inthe narrowing of the calf portion D of the stocking.

During the formation of the heel tabs the withholding lever 52 is heldout of engagement with the advancing pawl I5 and the reversing pawl 30is disengaged from the advancing pawl I9 so that the spindles I2 and I3each receive a synchronized two-needle movement upon each upward strokeof the link 23.

When the traveling nuts on the spindles I2 and I3 are backed outmanually, in the usual manner, for starting the knitting of a newstocking blank the timing lever 33 is rocked manually in a directionopposite to that indicated by the arrow in Fig. 4, until the lug 39carried by the arm 40 on the nut traveling on the spindle I2 againpasses into position in line with the regulating block 38, whereby thepin 68, by which the controlling members for the advancing pawls I5 andI9 are interconnected for simultaneous release from their respectivewithholding means, is moved away from the lever 52 permitting the spring64 to again move the roller 54 of the lever 52 into operative engagementwith the periphery of the cam wheel 56 and the opposite end of the lever52 into operative contact with the pin 5| on the pawl I5. At the sametime the reversing pawl 30 is moved out of operative engagement with theratchet wheel I8 and the pin 48 moves into operative engagement with theblock'50 on the advancing pawl I9 whereby the machine is again madeready for the formation and counting of the single narrowing courses inthe portion D of the next stocking blank to be made on the machine. 2

The dipping and raising of the narrowing points is performed in theusual manner by the usual mechanism commonto flat knitting machines, andis therefore not described herein although generally illustrated in Fig.4 in a manner which should be readily understood by those familiar withthe art.

Fig. 7 illustrates the relative positions occupied by. the variouselements prior to the formation of the first narrowing course in thecalf portion D of the fabric, wherein the thread-carrying bar I0 is inengagement with an end stop II carried by the traveling nut I2 on thespindle I 2 from which the arm 40 projects, the nuts 12, 12a at theopposite ends of the machine on the threadcontrolling spindles I2 and Webeing in the outermost position to lay thread to a full complement ofneedles for the full width of the widest portion of the blank beingformed, such position being indicated at zero on the upper scale 0-2'4-6at the left side of Fig. 7.

The traveling nuts I3, 14, and 13a, 14a on the right and left handspindles I3, I3a, at the opposite ends of the machine are in acorresponding outermost position indicated at a on the scales arbcd/-eat the bottom of Fig. 7. The nuts I3, 13a control the narrowing bar I5on which are supported the narrowing points 18 which operate along oneedge of the fabric, for example the left hand edge, and the nuts I4, Ma

till

control the narrowing bar ll upon which is mounted the narrowing points'33 which operate along the opposite or right hand edge of the bar. Fig.8 shows the thread nut it in the same position as occupied in Fig. 7while the narrowing point nuts l3 and it have moved inwardly toward eachother to the extent of one needle each, occupying the position in linewith the scale markings b, b.

Fig. 9 illustrates the narrowing point nuts l3 and iii as having movedinwardly to position 0, two needles" inwardly from position adesignating the widest portion of the fabric, while the thread nut l2has moved inwardly, from. the zero position, to the position 2 on thescale, corresponding to a movement of two'needles inwardly from the zeroposition at the outermost edge of. the widest portion of the fabric,thus completing one cycle of knitting involving the formation of twonarrowing courses, as illustrated in Figs. 7, 8 and 9.

Fig. 10 illustrates the thread nuts it, 72a in the zero position,corresponding to the outermost edges of the portion E of the fabric,at-or prior to the reaching of the first two wale narrowing course onthe line 1 y. The narrowing point nuts iii and i l, i311 and Ma are inthe corresponding zero, or outermost position with respect to theportion E of the stocking.

Fig'll illustrates the thread nut l2 as having moved inwardly from thezero position to the position 2 on the scale, to the extent of twoneedles, during the formation of the first'narrowing course in the heeltabs G, G, the narrowing point nuts l3 and M having moved inwardly to acorresponding extent of two'needles, from position a to position 0 onthe scale.

Fig. 12 illustrates the narrowing point nuts it? and iii as havingsubsequently moved outwardly to the extent of one needle from theposition 0 to position b in accordance with the reverse rotation of thespindle is to the extent of one needle as above described, while thethread nut it remains in position indicated at t in Fig. 12, in

readiness to move from position 3 to position ii;

and described, by which i obtain the above results, can be changed andmodified invarious ways without departing from the scope of theinvention herein disclosed and hereinafter claimed.

I claim:

1. The combination of a pair of narrowing spindles, a pair of operatingelements respectively associated with said spindles, a common actuatorfor said operating elements adapted normally to rotate said spindles tocorresponding extents during each cycle of operation of said commonactuator, means for withholding one of said operating elements duringalternate operating cycles of said common actuator, means forwithholding the second of said operating elements during a portion ofeach operating cycle of said common actuator, and means forinterconnecting the withholding means of both operating elements forsimultaneous operation to permit said normal operation of said operatingelements by said common actuator.

2. The combination of a pair of narrowing Sp dles, a pair of operatingelements respectively associated with said spindles, a common actuatorfor said operating elements adapted normally to rotate such spindles tocorresponding extents during each cycle of operation of said commonactuator, means for withholding one of said op-- erating elements duringalternate operating cycles of said common actuator, means forwithholding the second of said operating elements during a portion ofeach operating cycle of said common actuator, means for interconnectingthe withholding means of both operating elements for simultaneousoperation to permit said normal operation of said operating elements bysaid com- -man actuator, and means for withholding the interconnectingmeans for a predetermined number of successive operating cycles of saidcommon actuator.

3. The combination of a pair of narrowing spindles, a pair of operatingelements respectively associated with said spindles, a common actuatormon actuator, means for withholding the inter-- connecting means for apredetermined number of successive operating cycles of said commonactuator, and means operable by said common actuator for effectingrotation of one of said spindles in a reverse direction and to apredetermined portion of the extent of said normal rotation in the firstdirection by said common actuator during each operating cycle of saidactuator subsequent to the simultaneous release of said operatingelements for said normal operation by said common actuator.

i. The combination of a pair of narro spindles, a pair of operatingelements respectively associated with said spindles, a common actuatorfor said operating elements adapted normally to rotate said spindles tocorresponding extents during each cycle of operation of said commonactuator, an individual control member for each of said operatingelements, means for actuating the control member of one of saidoperating elements to withhold said one operating member duringalternate operating cycles of said common actuator, means for actuatingthe control member of the second operating element to withhold saidsecond operating elem ent during a predetermined portion of eachoperating cycle of said common actuator, and means for interconnectingthe first said control member with the operating means of the secondcontrol member for simultaneously throwing both of said control elementsout of said withholding relation to said operating elements to permitsaid normal operation of said operating elements.

5. The combination of a pair of narrowing spindles, a pair of operatingelements respectively associated with said spindles, a common actuatorfor said operating elements adapted normally to rotate said spindles'tocorresponding extents during each cycle of operation of said commonactuator, an individual control member for each of said operatingelements,

means for actuating the control member of one of said operating elementsto withhold said one operating member during alternate operating cyclesof said common actuator, means for actuating the control member of thesecond operating element to withhold said second operating elementduring a predetermined portion of eachoperating cycle of said commonactuator, means for interconnecting the first said control member withthe operating means of the second control member for simultaneouslythrowing both of said control elements out of said withholding relationto said operating elements to permit said normal operation of saidoperating elements, and means for withholding the said interconnectingmeans from operating during a predetermined number of successiveoperating cycles of said common actuator.

6. The combination of a pair of narrowing spindles, a pair of operatingelements respectively associated with said spindles, a common actuatorfor said operating elements adapted normally to rotate said spindles tocorresponding extents during each cycle of operation of said commonactuator, an individual control member for each of said operatingelements, means for actuating the control member. of one of saidoperating elements to withhold said one operating member duringalternate operating cycles of said common actuator, means for actuatingthe control member of the second operating element to withhold saidsecond operating element during a predetermined portion of eachoperating cycle of said common actuator, means for interconnecting thefirst said control member with the operating means of the second controlmember for simultaneously throwing both of said control elements out ofsaid withholding relation to said operating elements to permit saidnormal operation of said operating elements, means for withholding thesaid interconnecting means from operating during a predetermined numberof successive operating cycles of said common actuator, said controlmember of said second operating element comprising means for rotatingthe spindle controlled by said second operating element in a reversedirection and to a portion of the normal extent of rotation by saidoperating element during each operating cycle of said common actuatorsubsequent tothe release of said operating elements from theirrespective control members.

7. The combination of a pair of narrowing spindles, an arm pivotallymounted on each spindle, a ratchet wheel secured to each spindle, a pawlpivoted on each arm for cooperation with said ratchet wheelsrespectively, a common actuator operatively connected to said arms fornormally rotating said spindles to corresponding extents during a workstroke forming a portion of each operating cycle of said' com- -monactuator, a second ratchet wheel secured on one of said spindles withteeth projecting in an opposite direction to the first said ratchetwheel on said spindle, a pawl pivotally mounted on the common actuatorfor engagement with the second said ratchet wheel on said spindle fornormally rotating said spindle in a reverse direction during a returnstroke in the operating cycle of said common actuator, means for holdingsaid second pawl out of engagement with said second ratchet wheel, andmeans on said second pawl cooperating with the first said pawl for saidspindle to withhold the first said pawl from engagement with its ratchetwheel on said spindle during a portion of each work stroke of saidcommon actuator.

8. The combination of a pair of narrowing spindles, an arm pivotallymounted on each spindle, a ratchet wheel secured to each spindle, a pawlpivoted on each arm for cooperation with said ratchet wheelsrespectively, a common actuator operatively connected to said arms fornormally rotating said spindles to corresponding extents during a workstroke forming a portion of each operating cycle of said commonactuator, a second ratchet wheel secured on one of said spindles withteeth projecting in an opposite direc tion to the first said ratchetwheel on said spindle, a pawl pivotally mounted on the common actuatorfor engagement with the second said ratchet wheel on said spindle fornormally rotating said spindle in a reverse direction during a returnstroke in the operating cycle of said common actuator, means for holdingsaid second pawl out of engagement with said second ratchet wheel, meanson said second pawl cooperating with the first said pawl for saidspindle to withhold the first said pawl from engagement with its ratchetwheel on said spindle during a por-; tion of each work stroke of saidcommon actuator, a lever for withholding the single pawl of the otherspindle from engagement with its ratchet wheel, and means operable bysaid com-' mon actuator for effecting withholding of the said singlepawl by said lever during alternate operating cycles of said commonactuator.

9. The combination of a pair of narrowing spindles, an arm pivotallymounted on each spindle, a ratchet wheel secured to each spindle, a pawlpivoted on each arm for cooperation with said ratchet wheelsrespectively, a common actuator operatively connected to said arms fornormally rotating said spindles to corresponding extents during a workstroke forming a portion of each operating cycle of said commonactuator, a second ratchet wheel secured on one of said spindles withteeth projecting in an opposite direction to the first said ratchetwheel on said spindle, a pawl pivotally mounted on the common actuatorfor engagement with the second said ratchet wheel in said spindle fornormally rotating said spindle in a reverse direction during a returnstroke in the operating cycle of said common actuator, means for holdingsaid second pawl out of engagement with said second ratchet wheel, meanson said second pawl cooperating with the first said pawl for saidspindle to withhold the first said pawl from engagement with its ratchetwheel on said spindle during a work stroke of said common portion ofeach actuator, a lever for withholding the single pawl of the otherspindle from engagement with its ratchet wheel, means operable by saidcommon actuator for effecting withholding of the said single pawl, bysaid lever during alternate operating cycles of said common actuator,and means for interconnecting said lever with the withholding means ofsaid pawls for the first said spindle, and means for releasing saidwithholding means to permit said normal operations of said pawls by saidcommon actuator.

10. The combination of a thread carrier stop controlling screw spindle,a traveling nut on said thread carrier stop spindle, a narrowing pointcontrol screw spindle, a traveling nut on said narrowing point controlscrew spindle, a single ratchet wheel on the carrier stop spindle, apair of opposed ratchet wheels on the narrowing point spindle, a singlepawl for engaging said single ratchet wheel, an advancing pawl forengaging one of said opposed ratchet wheels, a common actuator for saidpawls adapted normally to rotate said spindles corresponding extentsduring a word stroke forming part of a complete operating cycle of thecommon actuator, a reversing pawl pivoted on said common actuator forengaging the second of the opposed ratchet wheels on the narrowing pointspindle adapted normally to rotate said narrowing point spindle in anopposite direction during a return stroke forming another portion of thesaid complete operating cycle of the common actuator, a shaft parallelto said spindles, a timing lever secured to said shaft, a link havingits opposite ends operatively connected to said reversing pawl and saidtiming lever respectively, a withholding lever for said single pawl,means operable by the common actuator for operating said withholdinglever to hold said single pawl from operating said single ratchet wheelduring alternate operating cycles of said common actuator, meanscooperatively connecting the advancing and reversing pawls associatedwith the narrowing point spindle so that said advancing ,pawl engagesits ratchet wheel during a portion of said work stroke of the commonactuator, an extension from the timing lever parallel to said shaft, anda lug on one of said traveling nuts arranged to engage the saidextension of said timing lever to hold said reversing pawl out ofengagement with its said ratchet wheel and thereby hold said advancingpawl in said relation to its ratchet wheel throughout a predeterminednumber of complete operating cycles of said common actuator and to thenrelease said timing-lever topermit said normal operation of saidadvancing and reversing pawls during subsequent operating cycles of saidcommon actuator.

11. The combination ofa thread carrier stop controlling screw spindle, atraveling nut on said thread carrier stop spindle, a narrowing pointcontrol screw spindle, a traveling nut on said narrowing point controlscrew spindle, a single ratchet wheel on the carrier stop spindle, apair of opposed ratchet wheels on the narrowing point spindle, a singlepawl for engaging said single ratchet wheel, an advancing pawl forengaging one of said opposed ratchet wheels, a common actuator for saidpawls adapted normally to rotate said spindles corresponding extentsduring a work stroke forming part of a complete operating cycle of thecommon actuator, a reversing pawl pivoted on said common actuator forengaging the second of the opposed ratchet wheels on the narrowing pointspindle adapted normally to rotate said narrowing point spindle in anopposite direction during a returnstroke forming another portion of thesaid complete operating cycle of the common actuator, a shaft parallelto said spindles, a timing lever secured to said shaft, a link havingits opposite ends operatively connected to said reversing pawl and saidtiming lever respectively, a withholding lever for said single pawl,means operable by the common actuator for operating said withholdinglever to hold said single pawl from operating said single ratchet wheelduring alternate operating cycles of said common actuator, meanscooperatively connecting theadvancing and reversing pawls associatedwith the narrowing point spindle so that said advancing pawl engages itsratchet wheel during a portion of said work stroke of the commonactuator. an extension from the timing lever parallel to said shaft, alug on one of said traveling nuts arranged to engage the said extensionof said timing lever to hold said reversing pawl out of engagement withits said ratchet wheel and thereby hold said advancing pawl in saidrelation to its ratchet wheel throughout a predetermined number ofcomplete operating cycles of said common actuator and to then releasesaid timing lever to permit said normal operation of said advaricing andreversing pawls during subsequent operating cycles of said commonactuator, and means for interconnecting the withholding lever of saidsingle pawl with said timing lever to throw said withholding lever outof action simultaneously with the release of said advancing andreversing pawls to permit said normal operation of said single pawltogether therewith.

12. The combination of a thread carrier stop controlling screw spindle,a traveling nut on said thread carrier stop spindle, a narrowing pointcontrol screw spindle, a traveling nut on said narrowing point controlscrew'spindle, a single ratchet wheel on the carrier stop spindle, apair of opposed ratchet wheels on the narrowingpoint spindle, a singlepawl for engaging said single ratchet wheel, an advancing pawl forengaging one of said opposed ratchet wheels, a common actuator for saidpawls adapted normally to rotate said spindles corresponding extentsduring a work stroke forming part of a complete operating cycle of thecommon actutator, a reversing pawl pivoted on said common actuator foren gaging the second of the opposed ratchet wheels on the narrowingpoint spindle adapted normally to rotate said narrowing point spindle inan opposite direction during a return stroke forming another portion ofthe said complete operating cycle of the common actuator, a shaftparallel to said spindles, a timing lever secured to said shaft, a linkhaving its opposite ends operatively connected to said reversing pawland said timing lever respectively, a withholding lever for said singlepawl, means operable by the common actuator for operating saidwithholding lever to hold said single pawl from operating said singleratchet wheel during alternate operating cycles of said common actuator,means cooperatively connecting the advancing and reversing pawlsassociated with the narrowing point spindle so that said advancing pawlengages its ratchet wheel during a portion of said work stroke of thecommon actuator, an extension from the timing lever parallel to saidshaft, a lug on one of said traveling nuts arranged to engage the saidextension of said timing lever to hold said reversing pawl out ofengagement with its said ratchet wheel and thereby hold said advancingpawl in said relation to its ratchet wheel throughout a predeterminednumber of complete operating cycles of said common actuator and to thenrelease said timing lever to permit said normal operation of saidadvancing and reversing pawls during subsequent operating cycles of saidcommon actuator, means for interconnecting the withholding lever of saidsingle pawl with said timing lever to throw said withholding lever outof action simultaneously with the release of said advancing andreversing pawls to permit said normal operation of said single pawltogether therewith, and a block intermediate said lug and said timinglever extension and adjustably secured to one thereof to vary the timingof the actuation of said timing lever as desired.

GUSTAV GASTRICH.

